A Chinese software developer is facing backlash after a writer accused its word processing software of locking her out of a novel draft More users have come forward with similar experiences after WPS denied the claims.
The Chinese novelist, who goes by the name "Mutu", was using a tool called "WPS" to write her novel when it suddenly stopped working on June 25. According to MIT Technology Review, Mitu spoke out about her experience through the Chinese literature forum Lkong, where she said that she was being spied on and locked up. Several people reported that the same thing had happened to them before as a result of her plight being shared online.
WPS denied that the software would lock a user out of a document. There is a law in China that requires online services to review the content on their platforms, but that they will protect the security of user information. According to the South China Morning Post, Mitu said that she was granted access to the document after reporting the problem. Several users responded by saying they would uninstall the software.
The company can see the contents of the documents if they choose. The latest move of locking a user out of their document triggered an ongoing discussion over China's online censorship and how much tech companies are forced to comply with authorities. Millions of people are employed by the Chinese government to block content on the internet.
This is the first time that WPS has been involved in a public uproar over censorship, raising fears that Chinese authorities may interfere with personal documents before they are even published.
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